Radiant heat reflective inflatable structure

Abstract

Radiant heat resistant fluid-distendable structure and methods for making same.

I claim: 
     
       1. An inflatable structure having an inflatable portion comprising a first piece and a second contiguous piece of flexible fabric in part defining said inflatable portion, each of said first and said second fabric pieces being substantially free of radiant heat absorptive pigment and carrying an inner coating of thermoplastic polymer rendering said fabric pieces air impermeable, said inner coating also being substantially free of radiant heat absorptive pigment, said first and said second fabric pieces further having an outer coating of thermoplastic polymer carrying radiant heat reflective metallic particles therein, said first and said second fabric pieces being overlapped by a determined dimension to define a lap seam therebetween, adhesive means interposing between said first and said second fabric pieces within said lap seam for sealingly securing the latter together, said adhesive means comprising a layer of adhesive intersecuring to said outer coating of an underlying one of said first and second fabric pieces and to said inner coating of the overlapping other of said first and second fabric pieces; said adhesive layer extending from adjacent an edge of said one fabric piece to but not beyond an edge of said other fabric piece and defining a substantially constant certain thickness from said edge of said one fabric piece through a major fractional part of said determined dimension toward said edge of said other fabric piece and defining a thickness less than said certain thickness through the remaining fractional part of said determined dimension to said edge of said other fabric piece, thereby to substantially prevent obverse exposure of said adhesive layer. 
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said flexible fabric comprises woven nylon filaments. 
     
     
       3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic polymer comprises a urethane polymer. 
     
     
       4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said metallic particles comprise platelets of aluminum. 
     
     
       5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said adhesive means comprises a urethane polymer material and means for causing cross linking thereof. 
     
     
       6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said cross linking means comprises an isocyanate.